IDPs protest

PESHAWAR: The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Khyber Agency’s tehsil Bara on Monday held a protest demonstration outside the Governor House and blocked main Sher Shah Suri Road for several hours.

Hundreds of the military operation-affected people blocked the main Sher Shah Suri Road for all kinds of vehicular traffic for several hours, which caused great problems for motorists and general public. The protesters were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands. They chanted anti-government slogans, besides slogans against Fata Disastrous Management Authority (FDMA) and other relevant quarters.–Our Staff Reporter

Talking to the media, Chairman of Bara Affectees Mohammad Iqbal Afridi said the government had announced Rs 5,20,000 for each family affected by the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan while the militancy-hit tribal people of Khyber Agency were receiving only Rs 2,400 per family which is totally unfair and injustice with them.

He said the people of Fata had rendered numerous sacrifices since independence of the country and were still giving sacrifices and stood with the armed forces to protect borders of the country. “The government has completely ignored the IDPs of Khyber Agency and remains indifferent with them,” he added.

He complained the food items distributed with the support of UNHCR among the IDPs were substandard and demanded to conduct inquiry against the responsible people.